Najib, an Indian immigrant, makes his way to the Gulf for work. Unfortunately, he is forced to be a slave in the unforgiving desert because of a peculiar circumstance. Najib’s struggle and eventual escape comprise the majority of the remaining story.
Prithviraj Sukumaran gave one of his most outstanding performances as Najeeb in The Goat Life. The actor is captivating in every frame, from his flawless transformation to his innocent eyes. Amala Paul brings refreshing ease to her portrayal of Sainu and her chemistry with Prithviraj is truly remarkable. Jimmy Jean Louis and K R Gokul have delivered commendable performances. The way Talib portrays Kafeel is intimidating and will make you hate him for his actions.
Blessy’s movie is based on Benyamin’s Goat Days, has many advantages, along with some flaws. One thing that makes this survival drama a tad lesser is the missing of a strong lead character. The film’s lead actor is fiercely committed to his character, which reflects in. his performance. However, the director Blessy, who was able to get the best possible output from actors and technical team, could have handled the repetitive parts and boredom feel in the latter half much in a better way.
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s brilliant performance and Blessy’s honest taking are the big plus points for the film. Sunil KS’ cinematography captures stunning visuals that reflect the journey of the protagonist. Najeeb’s loneliness is portrayed through wide-screen compositions and top-angle shots realistically. The family scenes which come at regular interval provide the necessary emotional impact. Moreover, AR Rahman’s background score increases the emotional intensity and encourages the audience to sympathize and empathize with Najeeb’s character.
Because the film is based on a true story, the screenplay has some limitations which act against it. Najeeb’s decision to react rather than initiate events, which is a creative decision that may be appropriate for the script, but is painful for the audiences to watch him become vague and unidirectional for a while. Also, after Najeeb decides to get out of his situation, the narrative gets a bit overstretched as the scenes get repetitive.
Last Line: A bit hard but an honest survival drama
